Taylor Mays not happy with Pete Carroll

USC safety Taylor Mays apparently wasn’t happy about being passed over by his former Trojan head coach Pete Carroll, now coaching his home-town team in Seattle.

Taylor Mays

Mays was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers with the 49th pick in the second round Friday, which means he’ll get to play the Seahawks twice each season in the NFC West battles.

The Seahawks were desperate for safety help, but took Earl Thomas of Texas with the 14th pick in the first round.

“It was just interesting,” the O’Dea High grad said on a conference call with San Francisco writers after finally being selected. “I definitely thought from the relationship that we had (that he’d be Seattle’s pick).

“The things that he had told me about the things I needed to do, I felt he told me the complete opposite from the actions that he took. It was alarming with who he took as a safety. I understand it’s a business, but you should be honest. That’s all I’m asking for.”

Carroll, who coached Mays for four seasons at USC, said he understands his former player’s feelings and doesn’t blame him for being frustated as his draft status slipped.

“I’d like to pick all my guys, but it just didn’t work out,” Carroll said. “I feel for him. I know what he’s going to be like. He’s going to be ferocious about going about this opportunity with San Francisco.

“Unfortunately he’s in our division so we’re going to be battling and all that. This is a remarkably competitive and prideful guy. I’m sure he’s got a chip on his shoulder and it’s going to serve him well. He’s a terrific player and an extraordinary kid. I felt bad it didn’t happen quicker in the first round for him. Certainly we’d have loved to have him, but it was just the way it fell.”

By the way, the 49ers open the season Sept. 12 against the Seahawks at Qwest Field.

“Just in terms that I didn’t have anything to worry about,” Mays said. “That my game was OK. My back-pedal was fine. My tackling was fine. Those were all things I asked about what I needed to work on and what I need to show at all these points. And I was kind of led to think that I was OK.

“It is what it is. I’m so happy to be with the 49ers and on a team that Ronnie Lott played on, and coached by Mike Singletary and on West Coast, close to home. I couldn’t be happier right now.”